The Double
Chapter 194 - 194 94 The Flower Pavilion_2

194: Chapter 94: The Flower Pavilion_2 194: Chapter 94: The Flower Pavilion_2 Jiang Li pondered within her heart; if it were a minor issue, surely there would be no need for Ye Mingyu to return to Xiangyang as well.

Contrary to what outsiders were saying, Ye Mingyu did not manage matters in the Ye Family and could not play a significant role in the family business.

If even the insignificant Ye Mingyu had to come back, then the troubles of the Ye Family were certainly not as light as said.

But now the members of the Ye Family did not trust her, and she had no way of knowing exactly what the situation was.

She actually wanted to return to Tongxiang, but Xiangyang was not close to Tongxiang, and to the people in Xiangyang City, Tongxiang was just a remote and poor place.

Even if she inquired about Xue Huaiyuan, probably no one would know.

However…

Jiang Li’s gaze flickered.

There was another way to get news about Tongxiang while in Xiangyang.

Here, aside from the members of the Ye Family, it was not as if she knew no one else.

After all, she had also been Xue Fangfei for so many years.

Jiang Li stood up and said, “It’s rather stuffy in here, let’s go out for a walk.”

Tonger looked at her in surprise, “Where to?”

“Just stroll around.” Jiang Li smiled, “This place is much smaller than Yanjing City.

It’s not a solution to stay in the Ye Residence every day on my first visit to Xiangyang.

Since there’s nothing to do, and the members of the Ye Family don’t let me see Old Madam Ye, why not wander around as the locals do, to see what customs Xiangyang has and how it differs from Yanjing City?”

Tonger and Bai Xue were first taken aback and then both nodded in agreement.

Tonger smiled and said, “That sounds good, we’re not lacking silver, so if you see anything you like, or items that aren’t available in Yanjing City, feel free to buy them, and we can bring them back to Yanjing.”

Jiang Li said with a smile, “Of course.”

…

When they were ready and about to leave, they happened to meet Ye Jiaer and Lady Zhuo on the road.

The two were startled upon seeing them.

Lady Zhuo was a bit embarrassed and flustered for a while before looking at Jiang Li and smiling, “Where are you going, Jiang Li?”

She called her “Jiang Li” quite awkwardly, which Tonger also found very awkward to hear, but to Jiang Li’s ears, it was extremely endearing, as if reminding her of Xue Huaiyuan calling her “Ah Li” back in Tongxiang.

“I’m feeling claustrophobic, so I’m planning to go out for a walk,” Jiang Li replied with a smile.

Lady Zhuo was stunned.

These past days, Jiang Li had hardly left the courtyard.

On the few occasions they met, it was usually at mealtime.

The members of the Ye Family were very polite to Jiang Li, but beyond that politeness, there seemed to be nothing more.

Jiang Li had also been exceptionally quiet, so her initiative to go out for a stroll now took Lady Zhuo by surprise.

“Are you planning to go out alone?” she asked tentatively.

“Yes,” Jiang Li said with a smile, “this is my first time in Xiangyang, and I want to see what’s different between Xiangyang and Yanjing.”

Lady Zhuo turned slightly red, feeling it was improper to let a young lady from Yanjing wander alone in the unfamiliar city of Xiangyang.

However, she had to accompany Lady Guan to look over account books later and truly couldn’t spare the effort.

Also, Lady Zhuo herself did not know how to interact with Jiang Li.

To be honest, not only did Jiang Li find the courteous but distant interactions uncomfortable, but Lady Zhuo herself felt uneasy as well.

People in the Ye Family did not like to act covertly.

However, Ye Jiaer, who had been quietly listening to Lady Zhuo and Jiang Li’s conversation, now quietly spoke up.

She said, “It’s fine, I need to go to Lizheng Hall and I’ll be leaving as well, I can go together with my cousin.”

Jiang Li was taken aback and said with a smile, “There’s no need to trouble you, cousin…”

Ye Jiaer laughed and said, “There’s no trouble at all, it’s just on the way.

Lizheng Hall is a Ye Family shop, and I’m going to check on it.

If you don’t mind, cousin, you can also take a look and see if there’s any clothing you like; if yes, I’ll gift it to you.”

Having had things put to her this way, it would seem ungrateful for Jiang Li to refuse further.

Besides, Ye Jiaer was, thus far, the most friendly person Jiang Li had met in the Ye Family.

Jiang Li then said, “Well, I will graciously accept your kind offer.”

Ye Jiaer smiled.

Lady Zhuo breathed a sigh of relief.

If they let Jiang Li wander alone, it would seem as if the Ye Family was neglectful in their hospitality.

At present, they truly did not know how to treat Jiang Li, so they might as well consider her a guest.

Even if she was a guest, the host family had responsibilities to fulfill.

Now that Ye Jiaer had offered to accompany Jiang Li, it wouldn’t be regarded as neglectful.

But soon, Lady Zhuo had a new concern.

Although Miss Jiang the Second seemed docile and gentle now, who knew what kind of person she really was.

If she deliberately gave her daughter a hard time, and with Ye Jiaer’s straightforward disposition, she might be at a disadvantage against Jiang Li.